Matrix producer plans Muhammad biopic

Barrie Osborne, part of the Oscar-winning team behind the Lord of the Rings films, says the new production ‘will educate people about the true meaning of Islam’

Producer Barrie Osborne cast Keanu Reeves as the messiah in The Matrix and helped defeat the dark lord Sauron in his record-breaking Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Now the Oscar-winning American film-maker is set to embark on his most perilous quest to date: making a big-screen biopic of the prophet Muhammad. Budgeted at around $150m (£91.5m), the film will chart Muhammad’s life and examine his teachings. Osborne told Reuters that he envisages it as “an international epic production aimed at bridging cultures. The film will educate people about the true meaning of Islam”.(Source)

I’ve seen the 1967 “The Messenger” version and thought it was pretty ok but a bit hard to follow at times. Maybe I was too young to appreciate it then. Theres another series currently airing on Islam channel in the UK which is similar although I don’t think it started from as far back as the birth of Muhammed (pbuh). This should be interesting, when it eventually goes into production.

I think it’s a bad idea. The whole concept would require the play-acting of Sahaba, if not the Prophet (sall’ Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), which is haraam. Also, as with The Message, the film-makers would have to invent a distinction between major and minor Sahaba, when in fact no such distinction exists (Hamza and Bilal, radhi Allahu ‘anhum) are definitely not minor, even if there were any.

I somewhat share the same concern as yourself. Ever since watching the movie ‘The Message’, whenever I think, talk or read about noteable Sahabah such as Sayedunna Hamza assadullah or Bilal Ibn Rabah al-Habeshi (RA), the acting characters or their dramatised image comes to mind.😦

I just hope they don’t get an actor to play the part of the Prophet because that may actually cause more trouble. Some people are really sensitive even about the idea.

This is something new I have been noticing lately on some Catholic blogs – love your way into change sort of thing. Apparently some missionary Christians have begun to claim that “the only way to get Muslims to stop terrorizing is to show them the immense love in Christianity.” There is the thought that Muslims should be taught that Christ died for their sins (as well)! This sort of talk about bridging cultures and educating people about Islam and examining the teachings of the Prophet is an eerie reminder of the same type of mentality – Muslims don’t know how sinful they are. How will they examine the Prophet’s teachings?

Maybe I am just paranoid but I don’t like the idea. Just write a book instead.